Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition that affects millions of people every year. It happens when your body isn’t producing enough insulin or it can’t use the insulin it does have effectively.
The good news is that it is treatable and treated or delayed through diet, exercise and medication. It’s also important to be aware of symptoms to determine whether something is wrong and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) disease that affects how your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas does not produce enough insulin or isn’t able to properly use it.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body absorb and use glucose, also known as sugar. Type 2 diabetics don’t produce enough insulin, or their bodies cannot use it in a proper way.
The blood sugar levels increase over time in both types of diabetes. This can lead to problems with the kidneys, eyes and feet. It may also damage your heart arteries and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease, meaning that your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. The destruction can take place over several months or even years and eventually lead to an absence of insulin.
People with type 1 diabetes need to take insulin every day. They must also monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their the insulin, food and activity levels to keep their blood glucose within a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes your body doesn’t make use of insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells to remove blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells, where it can be used for energy.
Type 2 diabetics should exercise and follow a healthy diet. They may also have to take medication to manage their blood glucose levels.
Signs of women having diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people of all races, ethnicities and genders. However women are at a higher risk than males.
Women with diabetes have a greater likelihood of developing complications than men, including heart disease (the most commonly reported diabetes complication) and vision loss.
Polydipsia is a sign of warning for women with diabetes. This is because diabetes can cause excess sugar to build up in your blood and kidneys can’t eliminate it.
The signs of diabetes in men
Diabetes is a condition in which cells are unable to utilize glucose (blood sugar) as energy. This is usually because the pancreas produces insufficient insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. Your body will then try to lower these levels by flushing out the excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
People with diabetes are typically thirsty, and they have to drink plenty of fluids.
Men can also experience weight loss because their muscles are broken down by their bodies for energy, instead of fat. This is due to the fact that the blood sugar level stays high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diabetes diet can be an essential part of managing the condition. It can help control blood sugar levels control weight and reduce the risk factors for heart disease.
Your diet should comprise plenty of whole foods like fruits vegetables, whole grains beans, and low-fat dairy. It should be low in added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You might also need to limit the amount of sugar-sweetened beverages you consume. These drinks are usually packed with sugar which can cause blood sugar levels in the body to increase.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes medications to help keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within the normal range. These drugs are often paired with changes in lifestyle, like eating habits and physical activity to help manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t being well managed on one medication then a second medication could be added. Your doctor will work with you to determine the best medication to meet your needs and preferences.
The latest medications, including sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon like antagonists for the peptide-1 receptor, decrease blood sugar and have benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as decreasing the risk of complications. They are also beneficial for weight loss and are available in tablet and injectable forms.